Effect of underground coal mining work boot preference on boot satisfaction and discomfort

Authors

Jessica Dobson, University of WollongongFollow
Diane L. Riddiford-Harland, University of WollongongFollow
Julie R. Steele, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

101580

Publication Details

Dobson, J. A., Riddiford-Harland, D. L. & Steele, J. R. (2015). Effect of underground coal mining work boot preference on boot satisfaction and discomfort. Footwear Science, 7 (Suppl. 1), S45-S46.

Abstract

Workplace injuries in mining are highly prevalent (Smith et al., 1999) and, in Australia, occur most frequently in underground coal mines (Government of Western Australia, 2011). The most common of these injuries are to the lower limbs, contributing to almost 18,900 lost working days and incurring $28 million in compensation claims annually. Approximately, 40% of miners who sustained lower limb injuries identified their work boots as the main causal factor. As a consequence, laced leather work boots were introduced as an alternative to the steelcapped gumboot (Marr, 1999; see Figure 1). Despite the uptake of this recommendation, no research has investigated whether the introduction of a leather lace-up boot for underground coal miners has positively influenced work boot satisfaction.